So the New England Patriots have cut four players in less than 24 hours.

The moves have sparked all sorts of speculation.

The release of Tully Banta-Cain, Joey Galloway, Eric Alexander, and Michael Matthews opens up $2.87 million in nonprorated 2009 salary cap space, which in theory allows the Patriots to absorb a player with a full-season base salary of $2.85 million. (Because all players were signed through 2009 only, there's no cap acceleration arising from cutting them.)

Some are speculating that the Patriots are making a play for Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman.

Coincidentally, his full-season base salary for 2009 is $2.972 million.

Another possibility could be Rams running back Steven Jackson (WEEI radio apparently is throwing that one around), but Jackson's full-season base salary if $5.5 million. Also, the Rams reportedly aren't inclined to move him.

Many also are speculating that linebacker Adalius Thomas would be included in any trade, given his surprise scratch on Sunday. His $1.9 million full-season base salary would be offset by bonus acceleration from 2010 and 2011, the final two years of his contract.

The Pats are always fun to watch in the offseason and during times like this. They show you how to operate a franchise. 9 picks in the 1st 3 rounds in the next draft shows once again that their front office is always working to get better. Which is necessary because as the Titans have shown us, if you dont improve you get worse...very bad very fast.

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What did the city of Houston do to anger the football gods?